One of the most asked questions of “car” people, second to “What kind of car should I buy?” and “How much do you think x will cost to fix?” is, “What would be the best car to buy for my [new driver] kid?” And I have a standard list of cars I cut and paste and send to people, and they just go buy Camrys anyway. The tables, however, have turned, and I’m faced with a child (yes, CHILD) who is at 18 months until she can legally qualify to get a driver’s license. And who, like her dad, can’t wait.
Continue reading
6 Comments | tags: Cars for Kids, CraigsList Cars, E320, First Car, Mercedes-Benz, New Driver, Not a Camry, W124 | posted in Commentary, Fleet Update, Resources, Totally That Stupid
We have written a lot about the Mercedes W126 S-class (you know, when we get around to writing at all!), but for me that’s largely because they are among the best luxo-barges ever produced. Modern enough to offer an excellent driving experience, and old enough that they’re not entirely bogged-down with technology certain to strand you in some catastrophic symphony of warning lights. Besides, they are so completely logical in their engineering and design – my Dad always referred to his as fitting together like a Chinese puzzle – that even incompetent hack mechanics like me can wrench on them. This pretty 1985 500SEL in Fort Worth, Texas comes with a little bonus surprise of its own. There weren’t many options available on U.S. market cars, but this car has one of the coolest ones. Find it here on eBay with a buy it now price of $9,995 or best offer.
Continue reading
2 Comments | tags: 1985, 300SD, 500SEL, 560SEL, BMW 745i, Four-place Seats, German Cars, Mercedes-Benz, W126 | posted in Totally That Stupid
So first things first: how can I call this a disposable sports car when it’s so upright and seats four life-sized humans? Well, I suppose the true definition of “sports” car is debatable, but for me it is simply something that I can drive with gusto, I can row my own gears, and puts a big grin on my face every time I get behind the wheel. My sports cars aren’t required to have sloped front ends and 3″ or less of ground clearance, neither must they be limited to a carrying capacity of 2.5 people. But that’s just me. If it makes you feel better and we can move on to the car, then think of this as a disposable “sporty” car.
Continue reading
Leave a comment | tags: 318iC, 325iC, 5-speed Manual, Beverly Hills 90210, BMW E21, BMW E30, E12, E21, E23, E24, German Cars, M42, M42B18, Mercedes-Benz Pagoda, Paul Bracq | posted in Disposable Sports Car, Totally That Stupid
Part of being a TTSer is coveting the strange, unusual, abnormal, underappreciated, etc. – automotively speaking. One of our favorite pastimes in the TTS offices is to peruse classified ads from the UK, mainland Europe, and even the Far East and elsewhere in search of whacky cars that whet our appetites. A particular favorite website for this colossal timewasting is Germany’s www.mobile.de. So on the tail-end of buying another car this week (details forthcoming) and then tripping on another car I’d wanted to buy only to have the seller take his sweet time getting back to me, I thought I’d distract myself by looking for fun cars that one could conceivably buy for credit card or home equity money – including shipping – and which you’d be 100% certain your neighbor wouldn’t have. Unless he or she is more interesting than you are..
Continue reading
Leave a comment | tags: Baur, BMW 320i, BMW E21, Citroen SM, Fiat 130 Coupe, Fiat 130 Sedan, French Cars, German Cars, Italian Cars, Japanese Cars, Lancia Gamma, Maserati, Mazda 929, Peugeot 504, Pininfarina | posted in Commentary, The Kitchen Sink, Totally That Stupid
One of the fundamental guiding principles behind TTS, except when otherwise EXPLICITLY stated, is that we write about cars that we’d like to own and/or drive. The E24 BMW 635CSi is one of those cars for the whole team. From the gorgeous Paul Bracq “ship’s prow” styling to the torquey “big six” M30 motor to the driver-oriented dash and sports interior, these cars were the dream BMW coupes of our generation. Heck, even Bruce Willis drove one! These days, however, clean E24s are getting nearly impossible to find, which is what makes this nice example for sale here on Craigslist in Savannah, Georgia for just $6,500 so appealing.
Continue reading
Leave a comment | tags: 1980s Dream Cars, 635CSI, Big Six, BMW, Bruce Willis, E24, Getrag 265, M30, Mercedes 560SEL, Moonlighting, Paul Bracq | posted in Totally That Stupid
Every time I turn around these days it seems like another manufacturer is forfeiting good old burbling big-displacement torquetastic motoring for force-fed fours and sixes. It would appear that the V8’s days are numbered, particularly in cars that us regular Joes can lay our hands on without taking out a second third mortgage. Along with the V8s, regular rear-wheel drive seems to be fading into obscurity replaced with all-wheel. Now I appreciate traction as much as anyone, especially after all the snow that we’ve been graced with this winter, but sometimes you want your back wheels pushing, your front wheels steering, and never the two shall meet. It’s definitely old school, but I guess that I am, too.
Continue reading
2 Comments | tags: Acura, Audi A8, BMW 7-series, BMW E39, British Cars, Cheap V8s, E420, E500, E55 AMG, German Cars, Infiniti Q45, Jaguar XJ8, Japanese Luxury Cars, Lexus LS400, Mercedes W124, Mercedes-Benz S-class, V8 Saloons, V8 Sedans, XJR | posted in Commentary, Totally That Stupid
What Should Junior Drive?
One of the most asked questions of “car” people, second to “What kind of car should I buy?” and “How much do you think x will cost to fix?” is, “What would be the best car to buy for my [new driver] kid?” And I have a standard list of cars I cut and paste and send to people, and they just go buy Camrys anyway. The tables, however, have turned, and I’m faced with a child (yes, CHILD) who is at 18 months until she can legally qualify to get a driver’s license. And who, like her dad, can’t wait.
Continue reading
6 Comments | tags: Cars for Kids, CraigsList Cars, E320, First Car, Mercedes-Benz, New Driver, Not a Camry, W124 | posted in Commentary, Fleet Update, Resources, Totally That Stupid